FAQs

Yes. Marataba is in the malaria-free Waterberg, safe for young children, and anyone who doesn't want to take malaria tablets.

No specific vaccinations required for Marataba. Yellow fever certificate required only if arriving from endemic countries. Check your home country's recommendations for South Africa. Standard travel insurance recommended.

Yes to Safari Lodge and the Residence (all ages welcome). No to Mountain Lodge (adults-only, 16+).

Fly to Thabazimbi Airstrip and book a road transfer (Safari Lodge 1 hour, Mountain Lodge 90 minutes, Marataba Residence 40 minutes) or drive yourself (3.5 hours). We can arrange everything once you book.

Neutral-colored clothing (khaki, olive, beige), layers for early morning drives (it gets chilly in winter!), sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, binoculars, camera. No formal wear needed - safari-casual throughout.

Safari Lodge: 15 tents on the plains, families welcome, shared dining, scheduled game drives. Mountain Lodge: 5 rooms above a valley, adults-only (16+), quiet, Scandinavian design. Residence: 4 tents on the river, private use only, your own team and vehicle, complete flexibility.

Safari Lodge (has a playroom and kids' activities) or the Residence (private, flexible, you set the schedule). Mountain Lodge is adults-only.

Whole Residence only - all four tents, private team, exclusive use. It's for families/groups travelling together.

Yes to Wi-Fi at all properties (already included in your rate). Cell signal is patchy - you're remote. Most guests find this digital detox refreshing.

The Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo), plus giraffe, zebra, hippo, crocodile, and 380+ bird species. Black rhino are our signature species. You may also spot rare brown hyena, aardwolf, and critically endangered pangolin. Marakele hosts one of the world's largest colonies of endangered Cape vultures (800+ breeding pairs). Remember - this is wilderness, not a zoo, so sightings vary.

Marataba sits in a unique transition zone between South Africa's dry western and wetter eastern regions, where river, mountain, forest and savannah habitats overlap. This diversity supports exceptional numbers and variety of wildlife, including healthy populations of both black and white rhino.

No. The wildlife in Marakele National Park is non-migratory, so you'll have excellent game viewing year-round. Variation in experience is seasonal (weather, vegetation) rather than location-based.

Winter (May-September): Cooler temperatures, dry conditions, sparse vegetation - best for game viewing. Also the season for rhino intervention experiences. Summer (October-April): Green landscape, hot days, afternoon storms, baby animals, spectacular birdwatching (best October-April). Both seasons offer different but equally rewarding experiences.